Comparative Evaluation of Metal Imbalances in the Blood of Breast Cancer Patients in Comparison with Controls

Abstract

Cancer incidence and morality rates have been increasing rapidly worldwide. It has been reported that exposure to trace metals plays important role in the development of cancer. Therefore, the present study was designed to evaluate the imbalances of selected essential and toxic metals (Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Pb, Sr and Zn) in the blood of newly diagnosed breast cancer patients in comparison with their counterpart healthy donors. Concentration of the metals was qualified by flame atomic absorption spectrometry by employing nitric acid and perchloric acid based wet digestion method. Average levels of Ca, Cd, Co, Fe, Mg, Mn and Pb were found to be higher in blood of the patients compared with the controls. Correlation studies showed significantly strong relationships (r > 0.500) between Pb-Co, Zn-Co, Zn-Pb and Ca-K in the blood of breast cancer patients while Mg-K, Zn-Fe and Mn-Co showed strong correlations in the blood of healthy donors. Significant variations in the trace metal levels were observed with the habitat, food habits, employment status and smoking habits of both donor groups. Metal levels exhibited considerable differences with the stages of breast cancer and the agegroups of the subjects. Principal component analysis and cluster analysis of metal data manifested significantly divergent apportionment of the metals in the blood of both the donor groups.